Formation tester



arch 6, 1951 m R EM mm E N W 0 I M 1m J 0 A.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1946 MLMEILE Patented Mar. 6, 1951 um'rso STATES PATENT orncs 2,544,623 FORMATION TESTER John E. Weiler, Austin, Tex. v Application August 19, 1946. Serial No. 691,607

' 10 Claims. (c1.255 1.4)

1 The invention relates to a tool for testing formations traversed by a well bore and-particularly to such a tool where the sample is induced to enter a tube from the formation by a reduction in pressure and wherein the sample may be, obtained without removing the drill bit from the ting members are arranged on the tool to cut a a construction wherein during normal drilling operations, reaming cutter elements will be extended to cut a seat in the form of an enlarged well bore, but where such elements are retract- [able at the will of the operator at the mouth of the well bore.

Still another object is to provide'means whereby retraction of the cutter elements is effected by control of the rate of circulation of. drilling fluid through the well bore.

Another object of the invention is. to provide in a-samplingdevice a jet nozzle so that upon the iniection of drilling fluid there will be a reduction in pressure to encourage the entrance of fluid from the well formation.

Another object of the invention is to provide 1 a removable jet type sampling tube for formation testing tools.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein! I I Figs. -1, 2, -3, and 4 when assembled end to end, form a continuous vertical sectional v-iewof the formation testing tool as illustrated bythe ..drill bit, reamer blades, drill pipe, and paclgerg Fig. 5 is a partial elevational view taken v-on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 to illustrate. the manner .of

. directingthe drilling fluid against the reamer blades;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3 to illustrate the reamer blades in collapsed position; 7

Figs. '7 and 8 when taken together illustrate a vertical sectional view-of a jet type sampling tool in sampling position in the tool assembly;

Fig. 9 shows a modified view of the lower end of the sampling tool;

Fig. 10 is a. sectional view of the jet arrangel ment taken on the line Ill-40 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view through the jet construction, and. is taken on line H-l l in Fig. '7.

In Fig. 1 a drill pipe 2 of suitable size is shown as having been connected into a string of pipe carrying out sampling operations.

and is shown as threaded at 3 to a nipple 4. This section 2 is of peculiar construction in that it has the side ports 5 which are covered by a sleeve 6 having the packing 1 thereon to form a seal above and below the ports. This sleeve engages a shoulder 8 and is urged to the position shown in Fig. 1 by the coil spring 9 which abuts the nipple 4. This sleeve type valve is provided so that the tool may be open for circulation when Normally, however, when no sampling tube is in position, this sleeve serves to close the ports 5 to allow normal circulation for drilling.

Any desired number of couplings and pipe sections may be provided below the nipple 4, depending upon the volume of sample desired. A mandrel [2, however; is positioned below these sectionsand is provided with a packer barrel I3 I which is slidable along .the outside of the manmetal or other suitable material.

' shoulder I1 adjacent the lower end of downwardly through the passage 20.

- -Upward movement of the packer barrel is limited by-a shoulder I 6 .and downward movement of the barrel is limited by an outstanding the mandrel.

1 Below-the mandrel l2 is a tubing l8 which carries a nipple {9 having a passage 20 for the flow of drilling fluid and a passage 2| for the upward flow of a sample of formation fluid.- A check valve 22'requires the drilling fluid to flow The nipplel9 carries a conduit zsror the flow 3 of drilling fluid and this tube is sealed in the strainer pipe by a packing 26. The strainer pipe 25 is threaded to the nipple l9 and to a lower nipple 21.

A pipe section connected in a suitable manner below the nipple 21 carries a transverse shaft 3| upon which the extensible reamer or seat cutting blades 32 are pivoted. Each of these blades has-a cutting face 33 and the pinion teeth 34. These teeth are engaged with a rack 35 mounted on a head 36 of the cage 31. The head 36 fits slidably within the passage 38 in the pipe section 3|] so that when drilling mud or other fluid under pressure moves down through the tool, the head 36 is contacted by such :fluid and will tend to move and carry the rack 35 downwardly thereby extending the blades 32 -to the dotted line position in Fig. 3. The spring 39 normally holds the cage 31 upwardly so as to retain the blades in retracted position within the windows 40 in the pipe 30 as shown in full outline in the drawing.

The lower end 'of the spring 39 sets upon a thrust ring 4| disposed in the pipe 30 above the "drill bit 42. The assages '43 in the-bit permit the "circulation of drilling fluid, H

With this construction, it seems obvious that as the drill stem and "the drill bit "are lowered irito the wellfb'ore, the bit 42 will, when rotated,

cut the small diameter bore which is generally known in the industry "as a rat hole. In order to drill a normal sized opening, it is only neces- "sary to pump drilling fluid through the "drill stem and against the head '35 at such -a rate as "to hold "the blades in extended position to ream the larger diameter -well bore '46, "as best seen in Fig. 2, and in this manner to form the seat 4"! in the bore. 'When the flow oi drilling fluid is reduced sufliei'ently, the spring 39 will "overcome the pressure on the head '35 "so as to move ''charge to the exterior of the pipe and upon the reamer 'blades. J h Fig 6 shows a section through 'the'assemhly and illustrating a plurality of -passages 5|] therein which conduct a portion or the drilling iluid past the head 36 so "as to discharge from the ports 43 in the drill bit.

In operation the parts will assume the position "of Figs. '1 to 4 exce'pt the pressure will 'inove the blades 32 to the extended position shown "in dotted lines when the rate of flow =0? drilling :fluid exceeds *a predetermined value. v

When it is desired to take a samp'le of fluid the drill bit will 'be raised slightly, the rate "of circulation reduced, and "the spring 59 will then retract the "blades. "The "drill stem will he again "lowered to place the bit -on the bottom "of the r'at hole 45 and additional drilling of the rat hole may in this manner proceed "so long -as the reduced rate of flow of drilling fluid is maintained. When additional length of rat 'hole 'has been drilled sufiici'ently to allow the packer "T5 to engage upon the seat 41, then the drilling may be discontinued.

When the drill stem 'has advanced su'fliciently "that the packer is "forced against the seat 47 by "the f'sh'oulder i6, -then the tool 'is in position :to obtain a sample.

The sampling mechanism, as best 'seen in section in Figs. '1 and8, is nowlowe'red'or dropped into the drill pipe and moves "downwardly by gravity. This mechanism comprises a tube 52 having a shoulder 53 thereon which engages the sleeve 6 and causes it to be moved downwardly. compressing the spring 9 so that the parts assume the relative positions shown in Fig. '7.

The tube 52 is of peculiar construction in that it has a perforate nose 55 on the lower end connected to the check valve assembly 56 which in turn connected to anipple 51 having lugs "58 thereintoconfine the checkvalve. Attention is directed to the fact that this arrangement provides a chamber 54 in which a fluid sample may be entrapped to be lifted to the surface when the sampling mechanism is withdrawn irom within the drill pipe 2.

The tube 52 terminates at its lower end in a housing :55 which encloses a tapered nozzle 60 havinga discharge outlet 6| arranged to direct a jet into the passage 62. The inlet to this jet nozzle 6| is by virtue of a window 63 formed in the side sup'port'ing pi'a'tes 54 which carry the nozzle in' supporting position inside of the housmg. "The windows 63 receive a "flow of fluid through the side passages t5 which are formed by the side plates '64, and the -'surrounding tube "52.

Upwardly from the passage '62 the inner walls of the tube 52 are tapered as shown at 66 in Fig.7 whereby the interior of the tube forms a diffuser comprising an element of the jet 'combinatio'n. A deflecting "came 69 directs the flow of qiquid outwardly through the ports -'5 in'the drill stem or drill pipe.

A plurality of pack in'gs '1 2 are arranged e/round the upper portion of the sampling mechanism -'s'o-as to formia seal with the interior of the pipe 2 --and to also assist in holding the mechanism in position so long as there 'is pump pressure .in the drill pipe.

v "Theinlet for drilling fluid to pass downwardly through the sampling mechanism and to accomplishith'e desired jet action comprises ports '13, a plurality of which are rormed in the top of the sampling mechanism below the spear of grapplirlg head 74. The fluid passes through the passages in the sampling tool and thence to the jet-nozzle 6 As above explained, the structure "shown in Fig. 3 provides a sample'chamber 54 by 'me'ans of which afluid'sample may be entrapped within the chamber, "and made available when the sampling mechanism "withdrawn as by means of "reverse now of drilling :fluidor by means of an overshot engaged with the grappling head 14. drilling fluid is pumped downwardl through the drill stem 2 and thence through the orifice E and pipe 62 Pinto the diffuser chamber within the tube 52 it produces a reduced pressure about and below the nozzle '60 whereby there is an induced ilow of formation fluids into the space below the ltl'OZZIe. y

The structure shown ihFig. *9 does not "include the sample chamber. Instead, this embodiment compr'ehends that the jetting mechanism will induce well fluids to enter and fill the drill pipe therebelow. The packer 15 is then unseated and pump how is reversed'whereby "the jetting mechanism and the sample are lifted to the surface.

Attention is directed to the fact that 'the .pressure at the tip of the nozzle of the jet '60 is a "function of the rate of circulation and of the .pressure on the nozzle causing the How of iil'iid "therethrou'gh. Also, the pressure at the tip of the nozzle :is approximately {the pressure of the formation. The various factors affecting these pressures being determinable, additional ingreases formation concerning formation pressure is thus imade, available, This information is of material importance in connection with furthergdrilling operations. and/orproduction of V the. completed wen position, circulating the drilling fluid to jet in a sample of formation fluid and then lifting the sample to the surface as explained.

The invention claimed is:

1. A combination drilling and formation testing tool for wells comprising a pipe, a drill bit thereon, a pair of reamer blades extensible from said pipe above said bit to enlarge the well bore, means to normally hold said blades in retracted position, a head on said means exposed to liquid pressure in said pipe so as to effect movement of said means to extend said blades to enlarge the well bore above said bit, a conduit through said pipe to conduct liquid to said head, a strainer in said pipe about said conduit, an inlet from said strainer into the pipe, 2, packer slidable on said pipe to seat on the shoulder of the well bore cut by said blades, there being an opening laterally of said pipe above said packer, a sleeve to close said opening, a sampling means to be positioned on and move said sleeve to uncover said openings, an annular tapered nozze in said sampling means to create a suction to draw in a sample of formation fluid through said strainer as drilling fluid is circulated down through said pipe and out said openings.

2. A combination drilling and testing assembly including a drill stem and bit, reamer blades extensible therefrom to form a seat, a seal on the stem for said seat, sample receiving means insertible through said drill stem and an annular tapered nozzle in said insertible sample receiving, means, fluid passage means to conduct fluid to said nozzle, a fluid inlet from said passage to said tapered nozzle and a fluid discharge port at the opposite end of said nozzle to jet into such stem a sample of fluid from the well formation below said seat upon the circulation of drilling fluid through said fluid passage.

3. A combination drilling and testing assembly including a drill stem and bit, reamer blades extensible therefrom to form a seat, a seal on the stem for said seat, sample receiving means in-- sertible through said drill stem, and an annular tapered nozzle connected to said sample receiving means fluid passage means to conduct fluid to saidnozzle, a fluid inlet from said'passage to said tapered nozzle and a fluid .dis'cha'rge port at the opposite end of said nozzle to jet into such stem a sample of fluid from the well formation below said seat upon the circulation of drilling fluid through said fluid passage, and a vent in said stem to be opened by said means.

4. A formation testing tool including an operating pipe, a port therein, means to close said port, sample collecting means to be lowered through said pipe to engage said means, a seal about said sampling machine so that liquid pressure in the pipe will move said sampling means to open said port, a tapered nozzle in said sampling means and a passage into said tube from the pipe so that liquid pumped through the 6.. i'pe' wfll J't' a' sample of 'fdrma'titn fluid into said sampling means.

"5'. A formation testing tool including an'op'erating pipe,-'a port therein, means to close said port, sampling means to be lowered through said pipe to engage said means, a seal about said sampling means so that liquid pressure in the pipe will move said sampling means to'open said port, a nozzle in said sampling means and a passage into said sampling means from the pipe so that liquid pumped through the pipe will jet a sample of formation fluid into said sampling =1n'eans, reamer blades extensible from said pipe tocut a seat, and seal means also on the pipe to engage said seat.

6. A sample tube for formation testing tools comprising a tubular body, a spear head thereon, an annular tapered nozzle in said body to discharge upwardly, a passage to direct pressure fluid into said nozzle, an inlet into said body below said nozzle for formation fluid so that the reduction in pressure caused by the flow of fluid through said nozzle will draw in a sample of such formation fluid, and a check valve to trap a sample in said body below said nozzle, said tube being insertable and removable relative to the operating pipe of a formation testing tool.

'7. A sample tube for formation testing tools comprising a tubular body, a spear head thereon, an annular tapered nozzle in said body to discharge upwardly, a passage to direct pressure fluid into said nozzle, and an inlet into said body below said nozzle for formation fluid so that the reduction in pressure caused by the flow of fluid through said nozzle will draw in a sample of such formation fluid, said tube being insertable and removable relative to a drill stem and drill bit so as to obtain a sample without removing such drill stem and bit.

8. A combination drill and sample taking assembly including a drill stem, a drill bit thereon, a packer on said stem to seal with the well bore, a sample tube to be positioned in said stem and an annular tapered nozzle in said insertible sample receiving means, fluid passage means to conduct fluid to said nozzle, a fluid inlet from said passage to said tapered nozzle and a fluid discharge port at the opposite end of said nozzle to jet thereinto a sample of well fluid from below the seal, and additional means to removably position said tube insaid stem, said means including a sleeve in said stem, and means on said sleeve to engage and support said tube.

9. A combination drill and sample taking assembly including a drill stem, a drill bit thereon, a packer on said stem to seal with the Well bore, a sample tube to be positioned in said stem and an annular tapered nozzle in said insertible sample receiving means, fluid passage means to conduct fluid to said nozzle, a fluid inlet from said passage to said tapered nozzle and a fluid discharge port at the opposite end of said nozzle to jet thereinto a sample of well fluid from below the seal, reamer blades extensible from said stem by drilling mud pressure to cut a seat for said packer, and additional means to removably position said tube in said stem, said means including a sleeve in said stem, and means on said sleeve to engage and support said tube.

10. A combination drill and sample taking assembly including a drill stem, a drill bit thereon, a packer on said stem to seal with the well bore,

. a sample tube to be removably positioned in said stem and an annular tapered nozzle in said insertible sample receiving means, fluid passage let from said passage to said tapered nozzle and a fluid discharge port at the opposite end of said nozzle to jetthereunto asample of well fluid from below the seal and reamer blades extensible from said steam by drilling mud pressure to cut a seat for said packer, said sampling tube being operable by circulation of drilling mud, through said fluid passage, and additional means to removably position said tube in said stem, said means including a sleeve in said stem, and means on said sleeve to engage and support ,said tube, and resilient means supporting said sleeve in said stem.

JOHN E. WEILER.

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,686,403 Boynton Oct. 2, 1928 2,134,045 Humason Oct. 25, 1938 2,187.;486 Burt Jan. 16., 1940 2,214,551 Edwards Sept. [10, 1940 2,284,170 Santiago May 26, 1942 2,404,825 Brown et a1. July 30, 1946 

